Lcb Is An Anachronism

August 23, 1985|The Morning Call

To the Editor:

The recent discovery of tainted Austrian and German wines must not be used to divert public attention from the real issue of concern to serious wine consumers in Pennsylvania. The sale of wine must be removed from the Pennsylvania Liquor Control system and returned to a properly regulated system of privately owned retail outlets.

While protection of the health and safety of Pennsylvania is a legitimate state function, this applies as much to the quality of milk as it does to the quality of wine. It is not a legitimate justification for state control of the sale of either product. The Liquor Control system has done nothing that retailers would not have done themselves to prevent these tainted wines from being sold from their shelves. Remedial action has been effective in all states, regardless of their form of regulation.

The existing control system is an archaic form of state-imposed morality which is ineffective and largely unneeded. Alcohol use is down nationally, independent of the form of regulation found in the various states. The social consequences of alcohol abuse are most effectively dealt with on their own accord. These measures, such as enforcement of tough drunken driving laws, are effective without regard to the form of regulation found in the various states.

Furthermore, scientific evidence has been presented before the Pennsylvania Senate which shows that there is no significant relationship between the occurrence of social problems associated with alcohol abuse and the form of state regulation of the sale of wine. Therefore, the Pennsylvania liquor control concept is irrelevant to the effective control of the social consequences of alcohol abuse. The system serves only to drive serious wine consumers to other markets in order to enjoy the range of choice and to benefit from the competitive prices that a free market allows.

Pennsylvania remains one of only two states which do not allow some form of private retail wine trade. Privately owned retail wine outlets would create a number of small business opportunities, providing a larger tax base and needed jobs in many related industries. Effective enforcement within a properly regulated system of private retail outlets will assure that underage drinking will not be encouraged.

It is time for Pennsylvania to cast off the vestige of Prohibition which lives on as the Liquor Control Board. It is time that Pennsylvania residents of legal age be treated like adults.